Today we can name the man who runs the organisation as Mark Wallace from Blackpool.

Mr Wallace came forward to explain his actions and claims that - despite not being an official charity, or having a licence to collect money in Liverpool - he was “only trying to do something good.”

Mark Wallace selling the wristbands in Liverpool city centre

He argues that Heroes and the Fallen - the name of the organisation printed on the wristbands and his uniform - is not yet registered as a charity because they have not reached the £5,000 limit required to register with the Charity Commission, and instead has registered as a business under the name of Roman Elite Promotions LTD.

Official guidance from the Charity Commission, the governing body for charities in England and Wales, says that any organisation which raises over £5,000 per annum must become a registered charity, and must have at least three registered trustees, but you can fund raise legally up to £5,000 without becoming a charity.

When asked how much they had raised so far on the bands, which cost £3 each or two for £5, Wallace said that he believes he has raised around £3,000 - although suggested he could not give a definite amount without speaking to his accountant or checking his diary.

After denying any of the money was going to his own pocket, he insisted that the only thing he had done wrong was selling the wristbands in Liverpool without being licensed to do so.

He said: “I’m a one man band, I’ve started up on my own and I’m pretty much doing this blind. I’m not lining my own pockets but I’m guilty probably of ignorance.

Explaining that he could see why people would be doubtful about giving money to a cause not registered as a charity, he added: “I can see people’s issues but the end of the day I’m trying to do something good, if I’m getting accused of lining my pockets that’s a total lie.”

Mr Wallace claims to have donated around £800 of the money from the wristbands to a registered charity called British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA) - however after the ECHO called the organisation they could only confirm donations to a total of £600.

When this was put to him he said he had given £100 to Sergeant Blackman’s Fund, which isn’t a charity but a fund to help get a soldier out of prison, and another £100 donation to the Royal British Legion for a badge at a show.

He said: “I’m trying to do something good. I’ve already donated a certain amount of money which I can prove - I always carry proof. I’ve given them about £800 so far and I’ve only being going since August.”

The wristbands in question

When questioned about how he much had personally gained from selling the bracelets, Wallace revealed that he takes a salary of around £200 a week as well as expenses for food, petrol and running his car.

He also told the ECHO that the colleague he was collecting with on Church Street had only been working with him for two or three weeks - and that he receives a commission of 50p per wristband, which doubles to £1 when he sells more than 25.

When asked why his colleague was keeping money collected in his pocket rather than a sealed bucket or container, he explained: “He should have been keeping it in a bum bag or a man bag - but it’s out of my control if he wasn’t. I wasn’t aware of that, I always keep mine in a bum bag so that’s something I’d have to take up with him.

“We don’t use buckets because you’d need a collection licence if you use buckets and we’re selling the bands - we’re not collecting.”

Mr Wallace, who was today spotted selling the bracelets in Halifax, says he will continue to sell them and that he believes he is doing nothing wrong as he will ‘eventually’ be registered as a charity.

He said: “In my opinion, I’ve done nothing wrong and I’m still doing nothing wrong and I’ll continue to do this because I believe in what I’m doing.

“I obviously can’t go to Liverpool again but I’ll go to the likes of Harrogate or Warrington where I am allowed to go.”